Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Reviewed June 2026
Administrative Agent
What Is Re-Entry Permit (재입국허가)?
Definition
A re-entry permit (재입국허가) authorizes a foreign resident to leave and return to South Korea without losing their existing visa status — required for stays abroad depending on visa type, unless traveling under the visa waiver exemption.
Long-term visa holders who leave Korea without a valid re-entry permit (or exemption) can have their visa automatically invalidated on departure, forcing them to reapply from their home country rather than simply flying back in. As of recent immigration policy, most valid long-term visa holders qualify for an automatic re-entry exemption for trips under 1 year (single exit) as long as the ARC and visa remain valid, but certain categories, visa-holders with pending applications, or trips near the visa's own expiration still need to file a formal single or multiple re-entry permit before departure. Filing is done at the immigration office or, for some categories, online through the HiKorea portal, and must be completed before leaving the country — it cannot be filed retroactively from abroad.
Why it matters
Assuming the exemption applies without checking the specific visa category and travel timing has stranded people outside Korea with an invalidated visa. A 행정사 confirms whether a re-entry permit is actually required for a given trip and visa status, and files it before departure so a routine trip home doesn't turn into a fresh visa application.